Combination dining furniture unit



Jam, I954 WALLACK 2,665,963 COMBINATION DINING FUNNITURE UNIT I Filed Dec. 22, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3nventor BANFBRDN WALLALK 3;, uv

mtomeg Jan. 12, 1954 s. WALLACK COMBINATION DINING FURNITURE UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1950 L MW U (Ittomeg Patented Jan. 12, 1954 COMBINATION nmmc FURNITUREUNIT Sanford Wallack, Fairfield, Conn, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Lee Leiberman, New

, York, N.

' 'ApplicatipnDeceinbe'r 22, 195 Serial No. 202,263 6 Qlaims.-; (01. 612-265)- The present invention relates to a combination dining furniture unit, and has'for an object to provide in a single unitary structure all of the components ordinarily making up a set of dining room furniture, namely a cabinet for storage of dishes, glassware, silver, linens, etc., a table, and a set of chairs, and which is adapted when not in use for dining purposes to occupy a relatively small space along one wall of a room, and when in use to have its table par'textended to "occupy a space extending outwardly from the wall and to have the set of chairs suitably distributed about thetable. f

In modern homes and apartments where space is at a premium a dining area is often provided as part of a living room, and is usually furnished with small scale furniture to 'fit' the relatively small space available. Aside from the fact that such an arrangement doesn'ot usually enhance the decorative scheme, it"also fails to provide adequate room for more than two or three people, and furthermore the area that it occupies is not available for other purposes. It is proposed in" the present invention to provide a furniture unit which when not in use for dining purposes will occupy a relatively small longitudinal area adj'a cent a wall making the'inai'n floorareaavailable for other purposes, and which when in use will provide adequate space "for seating a" relatively large number "of persons. Another object is "to provide a "furniture unit which lends itself to economical manufacture by standard furniture production methods, and "to the"jembodiment therein of modern" and periodst'yles harmoni-. ously fitting into various decorative schemes.

A further object is to provide aunit in'which the chairs constituting part of the unit may be fitted into the unit when not in use so that they provide in effect'a continuation of the front panel surface of the cabinet part of the unit.

With the above and other objects'in view, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims. I

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the combination dining furniture unit, according tothe illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, the same being shown in its position with the table sections arranged lon itudinally along a wall,- and with the chairs fitted therein. 7

Fig. 2 is a perspective view in which one of the table sections is shown extended for use as a desk or small dining table, one of the-chairs being shown in outwardly moved position and the other chairs being removed. 7 2 VI Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the two table sections extended to provide a large dining table and the chairs in place for dining. 6

Fig. 4 is a perspective-view showing the severalparts of the cabinet section'of the unit in sepa'f Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail verticalsectional view, taken along the line 8'8'of Fig. 5.

Similar reference characters indicate corre-' spending parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the combination dining furniture unit, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a central cabinet'section IE1 constituting a storage place for dishes, glassware, silver, linens,- etc., and consists of a cabinet base ll of gener-" ally rectangular form provided interiorly with suitably arranged shelves l2 and having swinging doors I3 at the front. Upon the rectangular top of the cabinet base N there is provided a central spacer strip M arranged parallel to the side edges and extending fromthe rearward-edge to a point inwardly of the forward edge, this strip being screwed, bolted orotherwise suitably secured'in place. 'A rectangular board 'I 5 of sub stantially the same dimensions as the top of the cabinet base' is "secured upon the strip M by screws Ilia and is supported at its rearward edge in proximity to the sides of the cabinet base upon angle'brackets l6-|6 secured by screws I I in recessed pockets l8 provided in the rearward side of'the cabinet base and by screws l9 inr'ecessed pockets 20 provided in the underside of the board [5. This arrangement provides a cabinet base having at its'upper side a pair of laterally disposed pockets, one at each side of the transverse central'vertical plane of the cabinet base, within which the inner ends of the table sections of the unit are pivotally connected'and supported-as will presently'more fully appear. A cabinet top 2] is secured upon th board l5 byscrews 22, being provided with suitable shelves 23, sliding glass doors24"and-a drawer 25. The cabinet top is preferably of substantially less depth-than the Pair of pivot 3 cabinet base, so that the forward portion of the board I5 is exposed forwardly of the cabinet top to provide a convenient serving surface.

The table sections 26-26, which are connected at their inner ends to the central cabinet unit in the respective pockets at each side of the strip 15, each comprise a horizontal rectangular top 21, a vertical leg end 28 to which an extension drop leaf 29 is hingedly secured by a piano hinge 30, and side rails or apron strips 31 set inwardly from the longitudinal side edges of the top andwhich extend from the legs to a point substantially spaced from the inner end of the top 21.

The inner end portion of each table section is engaged within the pocket provided at one side of the strip [4 with the inner nd of the table top normally engaging the strip [4 as a stop. At the forward inner corner of the table top which extends forwardly of the forward end of the strip H, as seen in Fig. 5, there is provided a pivotal connection for the table top consisting of a metal post 32 engaging a metal bushing 33 secured in a hole 34 in the table top.

The drop leaf 36 is adapted to be supported in its raised position, as shown at the left in Fig. 2, and by the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 5, by means of a bar 44 slideably mounted at the underside of the table top in a guideway 45, the bar adapted to be extended through a slot 46 provided in the upper portion of the leg adjacent the underside of the top. In the retracted position the bar A i is entirely concealed below the top and in the projected position it is extended beneath the raised drop leaf to support it. This drop leaf supporting structure is shown by way of example, and it is understood that any of the well known structures for-this purpose may be em- As shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the posts 32-32 for the two table sections are rigidly staked to a rectangular metal plate 35 which is secured by a machine screw 35 to a positioning plate 37, the screw 36 being engaged in a countersunk hole 36a in the plate 35 and screwed in a threaded hole 38 in the plate 31. The plate 31 is provided with circular guide holes 39-39 in which the posts 32-32 are engaged, and is also provided with countersunk screw holes 49 to accommodate wood screws 4| for the purpose of attaching the plate 31 to the underside of the tor. of the cabinet base. The top of the cabinet base is also provided with holes 42- 32 in register with the holes 39-39 through which the posts are extended upwardly into the space between the cabinet top and the board i5. This arrangement permits of convenient assembly and disassembly of the table sections, it being only necessary to disengage the screw 36 to release the plate 35, whereupon the posts may be drawn downwardly to disengage them from the table tops whereupon the latter may be removed. The parts may be assembled with equal facility simply by positioning the table sections in place and engaging the posts upwardly into the bushings 33 and thereupon securing the plate 35 to the plate 37 by the set screw 36.

The positioning of the axes of the posts 32 with respect to the edges of the table tops at the pivoted corners is such that in the position against the wall, as shown at the left in Fig. 5, the inner ends of the table tops engage against the sides of the strip M as a stop, and in the extended position, as shown at the right in Fig. 5, the forward edges of the table tops are disposed coincident to the transverse central vertical plane of the cabinet section so that when both table sections are extended their forward edges engage each other along the center line of the table, as shown in Fig. 3.

In carrying out this arrangement, the inne edges of the table tops are closer to the axes of the posts 32 than the forward edges, and the forward inner corners are radiused as at 43 to permit the table sections to clear each other when swinging to or from their extended positions. The inner ends of the side rails or aprons 3| are spaced from the sides of the cabinet base so as to provide suflicient clearance to permit the swinging of the table sections into and out of extended position.

ployed.

The chair elements n each comprise a back 48 of generally rectangular form, a seat frame 49, forward legs 50 and suitable seat and back upholstery 5!. The height dimension of the chair back is calculated so that it substantially corresponds to the distance from the floor to the underside of the table top, and the width dimension is calculated as the fractional part of the distance between the inner side of the table leg and the side of the cabinet base ii, determined by dividing such distance by the number of chairs. Thus the chair sections may be fitted within the spaces beneath the table sections, as shown in Fig. l, with the inner sides of the chair backs abutted against the side rail 3| as a stop, and in which position the outer sides of the chair backs are in substantially longitudinal aligned relation with the doors of the cabinet base to provide paneled enclosures at each side of the Jabinet base.

In the extendedforward position of the table sections, the distance between the table legs and the cabinet base is substantially greater than in the longitudinal position against the wall, so that, while in the longitudinal position of the table sections against the wall, as seen in Fig. l, the spaces beneath the table tops are just sufficient to accommodate the chairs in their stored position, in the extended position there is sufficient space beneath the table .tops to allow for substantial spacing of the chairs from each other and from the table legs and cabinet base, so that adequate room is provided for the comfortable seating of a number of persons.

While the illustrated embodiment of the invention shows four chairs it will be understood that larger units may be provided with six, eight or more chairs in which case the dimensions of the table sections will be correspondingly increased. Where more persons are to be accommodated the drop leaf extensions may be raised,

and for such occasions additional chair sections of similar design may be supplied. Where only one of the table parts is extended as shown in Fig. 2 it will provide adequate dining space for one or two people. Either one or both of the table sections may also be used as a convenient desk or work table.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined'in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination dining furniture unit, comprising a central cabinet section including horizontal vertically spaced parallel rectangular parts in substantial register at their edges and providing a lateral pocket open .at its front and sides, a pair of table sections each comprising a table horizontal top part of a width between its longitudinal edges substantially corresponding to the front-to-back width of said cabinet having its inner end portion engaged in said pocked with its said longitudinal edges normally closely contiguous to the front and back edges of said pocket at one side of the central transverse vertical plane of said cabinet section and said top part having a major portion thereof normally disposed in a longitudinal position extending beyond a side of said cabinet section, and a vertical floor engaging leg part rigid with said top part and longitudinally spaced from said side of said cabinet section to normally provide a space defined b said top part, cabinet side and leg part, and pivot means within said pocket pivotally connecting each of said top parts of said table sections to said cabinet section for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical pivot axis at a point of said top part vertically opposed by said vertically spaced parallel parts of said cabinet section, said table sections each adapted to swing about its pivot axis into a forward position at right angles to its longitudinal position to bring the forward longitudinal edges of said table sections together in a vertical plane coincident to said central transverse vertical plane of said cabinet section.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, further characterized by a central partition strip dividing said pocket into two sections and constituting a stop for engagement by the inner ends of said table tops in the longitudinal position of the latter. I

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, further characterized by said pivot axis of each of said sections being at a point Within said pocket substantially closer to the front of said cabinet section than to its side whereby said leg part of each of said table sections is at a substantially greater distance from said cabinet section in its forward position than it is in its longitudinal position.

4. A combination dining furniture unit, com prising a central cabinet section including horizontal vertically spaced parallel rectangular parts in substantial register at their edges and providing a lateral pocket open at its front and at least one side, a table section comprising a onepiece horizontal top part of a Width between its longitudinal edges substantially corresponding to the front-to-back width of said pocket having its inner end portion engaged in said pocket with its said longitudinal edges normally closely contiguous to the front and back edges of said pocket and said top part having a major portion thereof normally disposed in a longitudinal position extending beyond a side of said cabinet section, and a vertical floor engaging leg part rigid with said top part and longitudinally spaced from said side of said cabinet section to normally provide a space defined by said top part, cabinet side and leg part, and pivot means within said pocket pivotally connecting said top part of said table Number section to said cabinet section for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical pivot axis at a point of said top part vertically opposed by said vertically spaced parallel parts of said cabinet section, said table section adapted to swing about its pivot axis into a forward position at right angles to its longitudinal position, and said pivot axis being at a point within said pocket substantially closer to the front of said cabinet section than to its side whereby said leg part of said table section is at a substantially greater distance from said cabinet section in its forward position than it is in its longitudinal position.

- 5. The invention as defined in claim 4, further characterized by a plurality of chair sections for said table section each having a back of a height substantially equal to the distance between the floor and the underside of the top part of the table section and of a width substantiall equal to the distance between the side of said cabinet section and the leg part divided by the number of chair sections, whereby said chair sections are engageable beneath said table section with their backs constituting a front enclosure for said space as defined by said top part, cabinet side and leg part.

6. The invention as defined in claim further characterized by a plurality of chair sections for said table section each having a back of a height substantially equal to the distance between the floor and the underside of the top part of the table section and of a width substantially equal to the distance between the side of said cabinet section and the leg part divided by the number of chair sections, whereby said chair sections are engageable beneath said table section with their backs constituting a front enclosure for said space defined by said top part, cabinet side and leg part, and side rail means at the underside of said top part parallel to the front of said cabinet section in the longitudinal position of said table section constituting a stop for engagement by said chair backs and inwardly offset with respect to said cabinet front a depth corresponding to the thickness of the engaged parts of said chair backs whereby to longitudinally align said chair backs with said cabinet front.

SANFORD WALLACK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Schukat July 12, 1949 Potts Sept. 19, 1882 Boule Dec. 22, 1903 Bekesi Ma 9, 1916 MacKnight Mar. 31, 1931 Raeuber Jan. 24, 1939 Diericky Feb. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Dec. 10, 1936 Number D. 154,453 264,747 747,581 1,182,339 1,798,800 2,145,201 2,461,684 

